Improved mode of lacing boots



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT NEWTON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVED MODE OF LACING BOOTS.

Specitication forming part of Letters Patent No. 39,163, dated J u[y 7, 1863.

.To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, ROBERT NEWTON, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented an Improved Mode of Lacing Boots and Shoes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention consistsin securing boots, Snc., by a lace or laces passing through holes in the leg of the boot and through a tongue, substantantially as described hereinafter, so that the boot may be more readily fitted to and removed from the foot than boots in which the ordinary systems of lacing or buttoning are adopted.

In order to enable others to practice my invention, I will now proceed to describe the manner of carrying it into effect.

On reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, Figure l is a side view of a boot, partly in section, illustrating my improved mode otlacing; Fig. 2, the same as Fig. 1, showing the mode of unlacing the boot; and Fig. 3, a sectional plan ot' part of Fig.' 2.

The boot illustrated in the drawings is of that class which are open in front from the upper edge, a, of the leg B to a point, b, near the instep. At this point is secured the lower end of the tongue, composed of two sides, A and A', stitched together at m, so as to present the angular form shown in Fig. 3, one side ot the tongue being arranged to overlap the leg at one side of the front opening in the same, and the other side ot' the tongue to overlap the leg at the other side of the said opening. Each side of the tongue is composed ot'twopieces of leather secured together by stitches or by eyelets a a at suitable intervals. One end of a lace, D, is secured to the inside of the boot near an opening, e, in the same, the lace passing through the said opening, thence between the two pieces of leather which form the side A of the tongue, thence through a hole, e', in the leg, through another hole, e", in same, again between the two pieces of leather composing the side A of the tongue,

and thence through the upper hole, 6"', in the leg.. In like manner another lace is arranged to pass between the two pieces ot1 leather which compose the other side, A', of the tongue, and through holes in that portion ot' the leg which is overlapped by the said side A', the upper ends of the two laces being connected together.

As seen in Fig. 2, the boot is in a condition to be applied to the foot, which can readily be done, as the laces are loose, the tongue is moved away from the leg, and the front of the latter is sufficiently open to allow for the free admission of the foot. After the boot has been tted to the foot the upper ends of the .two laces are pulled upward, an operation which at once closes the opening in front of the leg, and draws the tongue tight against the same. After this the ends of the laces are disposed of by tucking them inside the leg of the boot, when the latter is as securely bound to the wearer's ankle as by ordinary laces. NVhen the boot has to be removed from the foot, the upper end of the tongue is forced from the leg, and the laces are loosened, as seen in Fig. 2, when the t'rontot the/leg of the boot may be so far opened as to permit the free withdrawal of the foot.

The facility with which the boot can be fitted to and removed from the foot will be readily understood by those familiar with the tedious manipulation required by the ordinary mode of lacing and unlacing boots of this class.

I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent- Securing boots and shoes by laces passing through holesin theleg and through a tongue, when the latter is formed and arranged in respect to the boot or shoe as described, for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT NEWTON. Witnesses:

HENRY HowsoN, CHARLES HowsoN. 

